New Zealand to Ban TikTok on Devices Linked to Parliament

 

Why Ban TikTok New Zealand

Due to cybersecurity concerns, New Zealand announced on Friday that it would restrict TikTok's use on devices connected to the country's parliamentary network. This makes New Zealand the latest nation to restrict the video-sharing app's use on government-related devices.

ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has raised global concerns regarding the Chinese government's potential access to user location and contact information.

This week, the Biden administration made it clear how serious these concerns are when it demanded that TikTok's Chinese owners sell their stakes or the app could be banned in the United States.

By the end of March, TikTok will be banned in New Zealand on all devices with access to the parliament's network.

In an email to Reuters, Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero of the Parliamentary Service stated that the decision was made after consulting cybersecurity experts and having discussions within the government as well as with other nations.

"The Service has determined that the risks are not acceptable in the current New Zealand Parliamentary environment, based on this information," he stated.

He also said that special arrangements can be made for those who need the app to do their jobs.

A request for comment from Reuters was not immediately responded to by ByteDance.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins stated that New Zealand operates differently from other nations during a media briefing.

Hipkins stated, "In terms of IT and cybersecurity policies, departments and agencies follow the advice of the (Government Communications Security Bureau)... we don't have a blanket approach across the public sector."

On Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand Defense Force both stated that they had already imposed restrictions on TikTok usage on work devices.

In an email to Reuters, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Defense Force stated that the move was a "precautionary approach to protect personnel's safety and security."

The app was immediately removed from government phones in Britain on Thursday. The app must be removed from official devices by the end of March for government agencies in the United States.

According to TikTok, the most recent restrictions are the result of "fundamental misconceptions" and broader geopolitics. The company also stated that it has expended more than $1.5 billion on stringent data security measures and denies allegations of spying.